泻下药

These herbs will stimulate the expulsion of stool or lubricate the intestines to facilitate the movement of feces to be expelled.　There are 3 different groups of purgative herbs: purgatives, moist laxatives and harsh expellants.　Purgatives are usually bitter and cold having a strong heat clearing property and being used for constipation due to heat.　Moist laxatives usually have a neutral property, are mild in nature and are often used for geriatric situation.　Harsh expellants are only used in severe cases and will cause explosive diarrhea. These herbs are also used as diuretics as they will expel large amounts of water.　Many herbs in this category are contraindicated during pregnancy or when accompanied by spleen and stomach deficiency.

Purgatives （purge Accumulation）
攻下药

Da Huang Properties: BITTER　- COLD
大黄 　　　　　Dosage: 3 – 12g.
Rhubarb Root Meridian:HEART, LARGE INTETINE, LIVER, STOMACH 　　　　　　　 RAW = PURGING
-purge accumulations, clear heat from blood, invigorates blood to remove stasis
-drain heat/damp – Yang jaundice
-topically for burns, hot skin, skin lesions (combine with Shi Gao)

Mang Xiao Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER, SALTY – COLD
芒硝 　　　　　Dosage:　3 – 9g.
Na2SO4 10H2O Meridian STOMACH, LARGE INTESTINE
- purge accumulations, guides out stagnation, soften hardness
-clears heat, reduces swelling

Lu Hi Properties: BITTER　- COLD
芦荟 　　　　　Dosage: 0.3 – 1.5 g
Chrystaline Meridian： LARGE INTESTINE, LIVER, STOMACH
Solid 　
-purge accumulations, drains fire, cools liver
-kills parasites, strengthen stomach.

Fan Xie Ye Properties: SWEET, BITTER　- COLD
番泻叶 　　　　　Dosage: 3 – 9g.
Senna Leaf Meridian :LARGE INTESTINE COOK 15 MIN
-drains down, guides out constipation due to heat
*contraindicated during pregnancy, menstruation or during nursing


Moist Laxatives（moisten the Intestine and Open the bowels）
润下药

Huo Ma Ren Properties: SWEET　- NEUTRAL
火麻仁　　　　　Dosage: 9 – 15g.
Hemp Seeds Meridian LARGE INTESTINE, SPLEEN, STOMACH
-moisten and nourish　intestines – elderly and postpartum constipation
-mildly tonify spleen Qi & Yin
-clear heat – promote healing of sores

Yu Li Ren Properties: PUNGENT, BVITTER, SWEET　- NEUTRAL　郁李仁 　　　　　　　　　　Dosage: 3 – 9g.
Bush Cherry Pit Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, SMALL INTESTINE, SPLEEN
-Qi stagnation, moisten Intestines - constipation
-promote urination – edema in legs




Harsh Expellants (drastic water expelling)
峻下逐水

Da Ji Properties: BITTER, PUNGENT　- COLD/TOXIC
大戟 　　　　　 Dosage: 1.5 – 3g.
Peking spurge Root(Euphorbia) Meridian: KIDNEY, LARGE INTESTINE, LUNG
-drain downward, drive out congested fluids – fluid in chest, thick sputum
-reduce swelling, dissipate nodules – topically for red-swollen-painful toxic sores or scrofula


Yuan Hua Properties:BITTER, PUNGENT　- WARM/TOXIC
芫花 　　　　　Dosage:1.5 – 3g.
Genkwa Flower Meridian: KIDNEY, LARGE INTESTINE, LUNG
-drain downward, drives out congested fluid – cathartic and diuretic – fluids in chest and abdomen
-kills parasites – topically for ringworm

Gan Sui Properties: BITTER, SWEET - COLD/TOXIC
甘遂 　　　　　　　　　　Dosage:1.5 – 3g.
Kan-sui Root Meridian： KIDNEY, LUNG, LARGE INTESTINE POWDER　0.3-1g.
-drain downward, drives out congested fluid – fluid in chest and abdomen -general edema – causes water to be passed anally
-clear heat, reduce swellings – swollen-painful skin lesions

Ba Dou Properties: PUNGENT　- HOT/TOXIC
巴豆 　　　　　Dosage:　0.1 – 0.3g
Bean Seed Meridian LUNG, STOMACH, LARGE INTESTINE
- vigorously purges, warmly un-blocks,　drives out water
-edema　
TOXIC- CAUSES SEVERE EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA